Our global Covid recovery plans are still not giving enough attention to sustainability

Madeleine Cuff writes on the inews website that less than a fifth of the Covid recovery spending announced by governments around the world has been earmarked for green projects. How do we get that to change? Less than 20 per cent of global Covid recovery spending is green, report says Despite promises to “build … Continue reading Our global Covid recovery plans are still not giving enough attention to sustainability →

Understanding carbon-free construction

Buildings and construction generate nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. As urbanisation skyrockets, the sector needs to find ways to rapidly decarbonise through net-zero building as required under the EU Energy Performance In Buildings Directive and to meet our long-term climate and energy objectives. Stuart Braun provides a good account to understanding carbon-free construction in … Continue reading Understanding carbon-free construction →

Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries

The aim is for green hydrogen to be produced using energy generated by onshore and offshore wind farms. The fuel could be used in industrial processes, such as heating stills for whisky distilleries, or plant operations in the port. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Whisky goes green … Continue reading Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries →

By continuing to privilege economic growth over environmental and social sustainability, “we are creating the conditions in which epidemics flourish …”

Tom Pegram, Associate Professor in Global Governance and Deputy Director of UCL Global Governance Institute, UCL and Julia Kreienkamp, Researcher at the Global Governance Institute at UCL write on The Conversation website about our need to embrace the politics of ecology as our sustainable way forward. Global obsession with economic growth will increase risk … Continue reading By continuing to privilege economic growth over environmental and social sustainability, “we are creating the conditions in which epidemics flourish …” →

Manufacturers fight to source the exotic materials needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles

Shortage of key materials and rising demand for batteries prompt urgent calls for action to avoid supply issues. Alan Tovey discusses the issues in an article on The Telegraph website. Electric car rush drives rare earths arms race Car companies’ rush to go all-electric is likely to drive an arms race between manufacturers as … Continue reading Manufacturers fight to source the exotic materials needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles →

One of Britain’s biggest insurers lets corporate clients know they will lose cover if they fail to meet GHG emissions targets

Aviva is the first global insurer and the first UK financial services company to set a target of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2040. Louisa Clarence-Smith discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Aviva leads global insurers on climate change plan One of Britain’s biggest insurers is putting companies … Continue reading One of Britain’s biggest insurers lets corporate clients know they will lose cover if they fail to meet GHG emissions targets →

Climate scepticism: an increasingly globalised world and a proliferation of climate-sceptical leaders have made it a global force

Climate scepticism was a niche political tendency, and where it did exist the more vocal forms tended to be the minority. But an increasingly globalised world and a proliferation of climate-sceptical leaders have made it a global force. Eloise Harding, Teaching Fellow in Politics at the University of Southampton discusses the issue in an article … Continue reading Climate scepticism: an increasingly globalised world and a proliferation of climate-sceptical leaders have made it a global force →

There is currently limited evidence for a quick transition to renewables in Africa

Galina Alova and Philipp Trotter of the University of Oxford write on The Conversation website about how they see the energy transition unfolding in Africa. Worryingly, it is going to be difficult to transition to renewable energies. Renewables represent only 10 % of Africa’s electricity production and even though they will significantly expand this decade, … Continue reading There is currently limited evidence for a quick transition to renewables in Africa →

Beware of carbon accounting tricks for us to achieve net zero

Disaster looms if big finance is allowed to game the carbon offsetting markets to achieve ‘net zero’ emissions. Simon Lewis, professor global change science at University College London and University of Leeds, discusses in an article on the Guardian website. The climate crisis can't be solved by carbon accounting tricks An astonishing global shift … Continue reading Beware of carbon accounting tricks for us to achieve net zero →

New EEA briefing on the health impacts from climate change

European countries are facing increasing threats from climate change, including extreme weather events and infectious diseases. A new briefing by the Lancet Countdown and the European Environment Agency (EEA), published this week on the European Climate and Health Observatory, draws attention to health impacts of climate change in the European Union (EU) and suggests key … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the health impacts from climate change →